Wednesday, 24 December 2014

As 2014 is coming to an end and 2015 dawns upon us, it isn't unusual to make those predictable New Year's resolutions.
In the spirit of my campaign 'Take Back What's Yours' which you can find more information onhere; I want to change the way we see New Year resolutions so that we can use them to benefit our whole life, not just for a couple of months, for example when we say "I will join a gym!"
As you probably know, in recent months...weeks even, bloggers and YouTubers have come under fire by the media for different reasons... I feel like the heart of blogging is taking a downward turn. We have such a huge opportunity to shape a world we want to live in, yet the blogging world isn't being used to its full potential.I felt like it would be a wonderful time to pull together and boost the message of this campaign in time for the New Year - as I said, many make New Year resolutions, so why not influence people to make their resolution to take back what once belonged to them...maybe their confidence, maybe their control or even their happiness due to whatever situation has made them lack that ability.This is a lifelong commitment, if you want to change the way you feel about yourself, or you want to act upon the message of this campaign and 'Take Back What's Yours', when better to do that than the start of a new year... This is notone of those "New Year, New Me" unrealistic resolutions. When I say "New Year, New You", I genuinely mean it.You probably know by now that I have so much belief and motivation in how we can change the world as cheesy as it sounds but we can! We can change how people are impacted by bullying, lack of self-esteem, confidence, anxiety, diabetes and much, much more. I want this campaign's challenge to be spread across the internet as much as possible. How amazing would it be for everyone to be taking part in this challenge, changing the world whilst they're at it!?I really do urge you to get involved with this campaign and this challenge. If we all get involved and UNITE, we can make a huge difference. If you can do this, please use the hashtag #TakeBackWhatsYours and feel free to tag me in it: @ChloesConcept :)If you would be so kind as to get involved, all I ask you to do is this:

Write a blog post talking about this campaign, the message it contains and why you are taking part

What Take Back What's Yours - New Year Resolution you are going to set yourself

Tag 10 bloggers to take part

Let me know if you're taking part by using the hashtag on Twitter #TakeBackWhatsYours - Also tag either @ChloesConcept or @TBWYCampaign so I can retweet!!

If you can - include a photo of yourself with a handmade poster (doesn't have to be artistic!) with the words:

"TAKE BACK WHAT'S YOURS -MAKE YOUR NEW YEARS RESOLUTION TO TAKE BACK WHAT BELONGS TO YOU. #TakeBackWhatsYoursIn 2015, I'm taking back: *i.e., "my confidence"

With that photo, you can upload it with a message on my Tumblr site. I want to get as many photos of people as possible so that we can put faces to names and bring a sense of reality to this campaign! This is the link OR you can upload it to your Instagram site (if that's more convenient to you!) but make sure you use the #TakeBackWhatsYours so I can see it and save it so I can upload it to a big post with everyone's picture!

There is no set deadline - just as soon as you can write the post, the better, to get the message spread!

Let's get #TakeBackWhatsYours trending and let the world know we're here to make a difference.

One more thing:PLEASE share this with anyone and everyone you know; friends, family, acquaintances, work friends, school friends... anyone and everyone! The more people who know about it, the better. Please share it, tweet it, Facebook it, YouTube it, Instagram it, pin it, blog it... you name it, please do it!I'll be print screening everyone's posts, tweets, photos...everything! I'll be constantly putting them into posts and including everyone's links and social media sites so be sure to leave your links and names so I can do that for you!I thank you all SO much for taking the time to read this post and if you do decide to take part (which I really hope you do!) thank you! I really do appreciate all of the support I have had in 2014 regarding this campaign. It means so much to me when I get emails from people saying how they want to be involved or just generally emailing me to make friends and tell me how it has helped them! I love getting to know you all so please don't hesitate to write to me or get in touch - I'll leave all of my links below!Finally, I hope you all have a wonderful and peaceful Christmas and New Year with your families and friends! Thank you for a great and supportive year and I look forward to continuing on with my campaign in 2015! See you all then!

Monday, 22 December 2014

I thought I'd post this little outfit guide today as we are approaching Christmas and New Year which obviously means more socialising and socialising after work so if you have a 9-5 job and you struggle to get home in time to get your glad rags on, fear not because I have devised 3 outfits you can easily wear to work that will allow you to transition into the evening, effortlessly and glamorously!

Okay, so I want to express that different work places obviously require different outfits/uniforms. So for example, you may not necessarily wear these outfits if the standard is "casual"; you may be more inclined to wear these outfits if the requirement is "smart".

I will be doing a "casual" work outfit transitioning into an evening event during the week so please stay tuned for that!

Outfit #1

I love the ivory/linen colour theme with this outfit. It's definitely an outfit that would fit any season. In the Spring/Autumn, a light leather jacket on top would bring an edgy look to this elegant outfit and in the Winter, a beautiful black funnel neck coat will bring a heavy contrast with the colours; quite monochrome-like and balance the outfit out weight wise!

Outfit #2

I think the colour theme for this outfit; blush will suit any skin tone. Whether you're fair, medium or dark skinned, I think this ensemble will compliment your colour and on the topic of colour, I think this blush colour will also go great with whatever colour hair you have. With some colours, only certain hair colours can work because they can give you a washed out effect but I think blush is a great go-to colour if you're struggling to find the perfect colour that compliments you!

Outfit #3

This monochrome themed outfit has an automatic smart association to it. I'm not sure if you agree, but whenever I see a monochrome themed outfit, I immediately think it looks effortlessly smart. The two block colours compliment each other due to its heavy contrast the pattern through the blouse provides a simple, clean cut finish and again, these two colours will easily go with any skin colour or hair colour so it's a definite staple outfit!

Finally, all three skirts have a 50s feel to them, which I absolutely love. I think that in 2015 these types of skirts are definitely going to be seen across runways and in the high street and that's great news as that means anyone can wear them and not look out of place!

I love supporting campaigns on my blog as I think blogging is such a great medium to get messages across! I run my own campaign called 'Take Back What's Yours' which you might have heard of and even taken part in!

Today's post is all about the amazing campaign where Rachel Stevens, mum of two is calling out to all mums, dads and parents to donate blankets to the Dettol Baby Blanket Donation charity campaign to help babies in need!

I think and I'm sure you'll all agree that this campaign is for such a worthy cause so please donate your blanket and if you know any mums and dads, urge them to do the same and spread the message of this campaign.

What is the campaign all about?

The Dettol Baby Blanket Donation aims to raise awareness of the dangers of bacteria on baby blankets whilst highlighting the shortage of baby blankets available to infants born to families in need.

Laboratory tests commissioned by Dettol - on washed blankets donated by volunteer mums show that baby ‘blankies’ carry a variety of bacteria even after a 40°C wash with a third of the washed blankets harbouring coliforms – a group of bacteria linked to faeces.

Once collected, the baby blankets will be hygienically washed with Dettol Anti-bacterial Laundry Cleanser an additive that kills 99.9% of bacteria even in temperatures as low as 15°C, before being re-distributed by Dettol to families in need.

Dettol has also pledged to donate £1 for every blanket collected to children’s medical research charity, Sparks to raise much needed funds for UK families with children who are affected by serious illness or disability.

Rachel Stevens, the face of this campaign expresses her passion for taking part in this campaign:

“"I've got all my mummy friends donating their blankets and I’m trying to get as many people involved as possible. It's a brilliant campaign in itself but now I'm a mum I am even more aware of how much more washing there is to do. With Dettol Anti-Bacterial Laundry Cleanser I get to do loads of quick washes at low temperatures and I know that things will be hygienically clean and germ free.”

Sunday, 21 December 2014

Today's post is focusing on the 'bold look' as you probably guessed from the title! I established the outfit first and gelled every aspect of accessories, makeup and hair around that. I love to start with an outfit because for me, it's kind of like joining the dots... you get the rough outline with the outfit and pull everything together so it creates an overall theme. At the bottom I'll link to where you can get everything mentioned in these looks...some items are quite pricey (too pricey for me!) but the point of the post is to inspire new ideas and maybe show how you can use some items you already have in a different way!

Let me know if you like this sort of post because I really enjoyed creating it!

Thursday, 18 December 2014

Christmas is rapidly approaching and I don't like how quick it's coming! Christmas is my favourite time of year so I really like to enjoy it and make the most of it, but it's just flying by!

As the days are whittling by so quickly, I thought it would be helpful if I put together a bit of a gift guide/idea post to help you out if you're struggling to find time to actually look for presents for friends and family!

First of all we'll get stuck into some beauty products!

Foundations:

Obviously this is quite a difficult one because you really need to know the shade of the person you are buying for as this is so difficult to get right if they're not with you to choose. If you're lucky and you know the colour (although the shade and colours do change depending on the brand!) then here's a couple of my favourite drugstore foundations:

Eyes

I was lucky enough to trial this product and I absolutely love it! The mascara wand is something which allows me to get right into the lash bed and really grip each individual lash without it appearing clumpy or getting mascara all over your eyelids (which I can't stand!). After one coat, it gives you a lovely natural look but when you apply a couple of layers, you'll really get that doll effect finish which the product claims to give you!I definitely recommend this product! It makes for a wonderful Christmas Gift Set or even if you're looking for a new mascara and eyeliner!

I hope you found this post helpful if you're looking for gifts to buy or even if you fancy a new product to add on your Christmas wishlist! In the next couple of days I'll be posting a Fashion Christmas Gift Guide and also a Random Christmas Gift Guide which will include...you guessed it... random things but still awesome nonetheless!Stay tuned and hope to see you back here soon!

Monday, 15 December 2014

I'm sure I don't have to remind you that Christmas is TEN days away... you could even class it as NINE days (as today is nearly over!) until that massive Christmas dinner is sat down in front of you on your lovely decorated dinner table with that mouth watering desert which makes you put on 10lbs before you even eat it!!

If you're anything like me and find it hard to keep up with keeping fit over the festive period, fear not because Reebok has your back.

I thought this guide was extremely important not just to lose weight over Christmas but to keep yourself fit and healthy. Being diabetic, I want to promote a healthy lifestyle as much as possible (you'll see at the bottom of this post I run a campaign called 'Take Back What's Yours' which I'd love for you to all get involved with - details at the bottom OR you can read about it here)!

Here's a great little fitness guide you can adopt into your daily routine, not JUST over the festive period but every day in general!

As Christmas is fast approaching and the abundance of food near, Reebok’s Master Trainers have created a Christmas Survival Guide to help you stay on track of your fitness goals whilst still enjoying the fruits of the festive period.

Incorporate little exercises on a daily basis – they will add up!

Start the day balanced. When brushing your teeth stand on one leg to activate the core and work on your balance and stabilisation. You can try this with your eyes closed if you are brave… as this will affect the effort required to stand still and tall

Get up 10 minutes earlier in the morning and warm up for the day by incorporating some exercises. An interval training with 40 seconds work and 20 seconds rest will get you started – just repeat 10 times. Exercises: burpees, plank, lunges, glute bridge, press ups, jumping jacks, squats, side plank (20 seconds each side), glute raise, single leg squat

Climb the stairs – lose the lift or escalator when out and about, or at home, just climb the stairs a couple of times for no reason other than to start to shift the lbs. Climbing three flights will burn approximately 15 calories. Not much but over a day/week it all adds up.

Be food wise – keep it simple, count chemicals not calories

Counting calories can often be overbearing. Of course you should watch the amounts and types of food you eat but everyone’s got a different physique and activity level. It’s impossible to put everyone in the same boat.

Start by reducing the chemicals, try to keep it natural. Cook rather than have a ready meal. Avoid processed foods and stock up on natural foods. This will provide great fuel for your body. By omitting toxins such as sugars we keep our blood levels balanced, which not only keeps energy levels even but also reduces risks of health issues based on that.

A swap a day

Why not swap something every day?

Swap a coke for water

Swap a sandwich for a salad wrap

Swap a beer for a wine spritzer

Weight loss

If your main goal is weight loss, look at yourself in the mirror. Weight loss on a scale doesn’t always reflect the loss of fat. Always remember: you didn’t go to bed one weight or dress size and wake up the next day with a transformed body, so don’t try and lose extra overnight. Work out a schedule that works in the long term and take little steps every day.

Rewarding yourself

It’s important to reward yourself if you’re doing a good job and staying on track. Instead of getting out the chocolate pralines, reward yourself with things that don’t go in your mouth. Book yourself a massage, book that boat trip or go for a walk in a beautiful forest and just enjoy the view.

Team up

Surround yourself with people on the same mission and you’ll empower each other to keep going, keeping levels of motivation up.

Why wait?

There is no better time to start than RIGHT NOW. Give yourself the best Christmas gift – a fitter, healthier you. Look and feel great at the Christmas party or for New Year. Exercise can help improve both your physical and mental health as soon as you start and you will feel energised. Exercise is also a great stress reliever. Exercise regularly and you’ll be all set for that Christmas shop everyone else is getting stressed out from.

Plan

We are all different – what works for you might not work for anyone else. If you’re not sure what the best approach is for you, you can always get external help and contact a personal trainer for assistance.

Reebok has kindly provided the opportunity to join FREE fitness classes that might be going on where you live, so do check out the link below because it's well worth it!

❅Reebok provides ongoing and free fitness classes for local communities as part of the brand’s vision to make fitness, health and wellbeing truly accessible to all. To check out and book onto any free fitness classes that may be happening in your area, visit: http://fitness.reebok.co.uk/FitnessEvents/Events-landing/

Before I go!

If you'd like to join me on my 'Take Back What's Yours' campaign which is all about empowerment in diabetes, bullying, self-esteem, anxiety & any other medical or mental health issue, please check out this link to more information on what we do! We'd love to have you on board so do get in touch by email or tweet me! If you just want a chat about diabetes or if you don't necessarily know many people with the condition, feel free to email me! My links are below!

Friday, 12 December 2014

So as Christmas is rapidly approaching, (where did November go!?) it's not to be forgotten that it's also the party season with work do's and nights out with friends and family! During these dressy occasions, it's important to treat your hair with respect whilst your teasing, curling, straightening and goodness knows doing what else to your hair!

Firstly, a great product to use during the washing and drying process is 'Umberto Giannini: Mend My Hair Rehab Salon Smooth Damage Repair Keratin Spray'. This is a fantastic product to use to repair and mend broken and strained hair which is already damaged to prevent further damage. It possesses Keratin and grapeseed oil; both of which targeting damaged hair in order to repair it. In case you didn't know, Keratin is a protein which we have in our hair so providing extra Keratin within this product gives you an extra boost of protein which is great for repairing and growing your hair as well as strengthening it and restoring it's condition. This product is only £6.99 and is one I really love and feel it's doing it's job of strengthening and repairing my hair!

The next product I have for you is the Tresemme Keratin Smooth Heat Protection Shine Spray. This is obviously for use during the blow-drying process or when you're hair is dry and you're about to use heat on it. With the party season upon us, we all love a curling tong and straightening iron to give more of a polished look so it's crucial to use a heat protection spray! Again, with this product being from the Keratin range of Tresemme, it provides your hair with the protein it's stripped of when heat is applied to it. Due to the Keratin in it, it also reduces frizz and is gentle enough to use on colour treated hair which is great because with events coming up; if you're touching up the colour of your hair, you don't want to colour to be damaged by the products you use! I really love this heat protection spray because it does what it says - protects your hair against heat whilst leaving a lovely sheen in the process!

Sunday, 7 December 2014

Hi everyone!So today's post, as you can probably guess is a review on Estée Lauder's Double Wear foundation. You might already know that this product is one of the most talked about products within the beauty blogosphere world because it has so many great elements to it, how is it possible not to love it?So yes, I do love this product but I'll give you a quick story behind it first.I decided that because this is quite an expensive foundation, I'd get matched in Boots because I wanted something that would actually reflect my real skin tone. I usually go for a darker colour than what I am naturally, especially in the winter, however I fancied going for the more natural look and getting one that matched precisely. So yes, I got matched and the first colour the lady tried was a perfect match! Success!

I have quite prominent facial redness; not rosacea as such but very pigmented. I've gone to multiple doctors appointments, dermatology appointments, lazer treatments, you name it, I've done it and yet I'm still left with pigmented skin. It's not the worst thing to have but it certainly brings a degree of self-consciousness with it which I'm not comfortable with and that is why I wear foundation. If I could not wear it, I probably wouldn't... or at least not wear as much!Anyways, a little side-tracked there but still relevant I guess! This product promises to have a great amount of coverage and last a long, long time and that is why I bought it. I think this 30ml bottle of greatness is fantastic. My mum even said that she noticed the redness disappearing as soon as the lady in Boots put a tiny amount on my skin. You can of course, build this product up to give a fuller coverage look, but I've been enjoying wearing a limited amount lately.The foundation bottle doesn't actually come with a pump. This is a huge flaw for some and yes, I can kind of agree, but you can physically see how much you are using when pouring it out manually so you can be a little more affordable with how much you use or you can use a little less when you think you're coming near the end.The general packaging of the product is so elegant and regal in my opinion. The deep purple/blue box it is presented in is so compact, understated, simple and unique. I think that along with the bottle, which is glass (so be careful!) with gold and purple writing matching the gold and purple writing scripted on the box carries a consistent theme of elegance and class. I think the bottle and packaging of items say a lot about the quality of the products so I always take this into consideration when purchasing a product!

I do recommend though, if you have dry skin like I do, prep your skin. I know you probably do anyways but I neglect the prepping of my skin sometimes and rush in with a primer. I've recently purchased several radiance boosting moisturisers (reviews coming this week!) which I prep my skin with and then go ahead with my primer. If you have super duper dry skin and you like that dewy/satin finish, pop a little bit of Bourjois Healthy Mix or MAC Pro Longwear underneath and this will act as a fantastic base, providing that extra bit of dewiness to give you a healthy winter glow!The cost of this Double Wear foundation is usually approximately £29.50 from Boots but is currently on offer for £23.60!

Have you tried this foundation? What do you think?

Let me know in the comments below!

I hope you liked this post and a quick little side note before I go: I haven't posted AS MUCH as I usually do these past couple of weeks and I miss it so much however, I'm in my last year of university so the deadlines are coming fast and are all at the same time but I have a little break between next week and Christmas! I have so, so many posts planned, new products to review, 'Take Back What's Yours' news and updates and so much more so please come back next week and have a little gander!